Portable game table with rotatable rim



SePt- 1, 1970 K. w/IGGINS l 3,526,404

PORTABLE GAME TABLE WITH ROTATABLE RIM Filed Jan. 29, 1968 KENNETH WIGGINS mfwm( UM United States Patent O 3,526,404 PORTABLE GAME TABLE WITH PORTABLE RIM Kenneth Wiggins, 9425 S. Vernon Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60619 Filed Jan. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 701,210 Int. Cl. A63d 3/00 U.S. Cl. 273-118 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable game table comprising a disc carrying a playing surface and having a rotatable rim mounted on roller means which are removably coupled to the disc and positioned below and extending outwardly of the peripheral edge of the disc, said rim ibeing demountable from the roller means without handling of the disc and said rim having a removed portion so that limited access is provided to portions of the playing surface enclosed by the rim at the level of the said surface; the rim being formed of pin and hinge connected arcuate segments: the demountability of the rim and roller means permitting use of the playing surface for many and varied other games and purposes.

This invention relates generally to game apparatus and, more particularly, concerns the provision of an improved portable game table of unusual versatility, capable of easy assembly and disassembly, and which includes a fixed top carrying a playing surface and a rotatable rim particularly to faciliate the playing of games involving limited access to a plane surface from the edge and at the level thereof but only at a particular location along the said edge.

Although many entertaining and interesting games may be played upon the game table provided by the invention, the same is especially suitable for playing 'well known marble games and especially for play indoors. As is well known, the game of marbles commonly involves the random and/ or selected positioning of a plurality of solid, usually glass, spheres within a playing area bordered by an endless boundary or ring. The object of the game is for the player to impel a marble, sometimes called a shooter, from outside the playing area so as to collide with a marble disposed within the playing area, the impact of such collision transferring the energy of motion to the second marble so as to propel same. Play by a single player is continued until a marble is not propelled exterior of the ring. A next succeeding player then begins to play and so on. The player who causes the expulsion of most marbles from the ring is considered the winner. Many other adaptations and variations of marble games are known.

Marble games are usually played outdoors only requiring a relatively flat non-vegetated playing area, an endless circular groove formed in the plot demarking the playing area boundary. The game also can be played indoors providing a suitable playing area is found, whereupon different means are utilized to demark the boundary. Often, the playing of marble games is limited due to the absence of non-vegetated plots outdoors. Indoors, suitable play areas are even less common. Many indoor recreation areas are uncarpeted and do not present a friction surface suitable to the playing of marble games. Further, indoor playing of marble games hardly is convenient since both playing pieces and players often are underfoot, with pieces being lost or strayed. While many different game table constructions are available, none truly are suitable for use in playing such marble games. Some game tables have increased friction coverings and raised rim means to prevent scattering of the playing pieces off the table.

3,526,404 Patented Sept. l, 1970 Pce Coverings such as felt have long been used to provide playing surfaces for card 4game tables, pool tables, and the like. However, none of such game table constructions provide the type of limited access to the playing surface at the level required for marble games and the like. The game tables presently available generally are not versatile and often they have no other use except for the specic game for which they were designed. Many rimmed game tables do not provide selected but limited access to the playing surface. Those tables having rims require the player to bridge the rim rendering the game more difficult than necessary in play.

It is advantageous for the game table of the character described to be capable for other uses, such as for dining, playing table tennis, playing various card games, etc., without major change. Presently, available game tables do not carry such advantage. At present, those available game tables which provide limited access to the playing sur-face, do not enable the limited access area to be moved so as to suit the play from other than a single fixed location of access. In the latter instances should the orientation of players be, say, around the circumference of the game table, such rimmed structures as are available utilize a rotatable `base so that the table itself can be rotated and in those instances the rimmed structures, 'when they are available, are xed positively at a particular location. In many games movement of the base may dislodge the playing pieces; others require access be given at other locations around the ring; thus, present structures are disadvantaged for play of those games.

Another disadvantage of the presently available game table constructions involve their difculty of assembly and disassembly so that their versatility and use is quite limited. With respect to the playing of marble games outdoors, the lack of readily available playing areas of suitable topography, implies that constructed play areas are required. In view of the difliculty of knock down and set up, and lack of portability, as well as the other disadvantages above described, indoor game table constructions whic are -presently available ould hardly suflice for use outdors, paraicularly as a playing board for marble games. Likewise, any game tables specically designed for outdoor use are hardly appropriate for indoor uses.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide an improved portable game table construction, particularly useful for the playing of marble games thereon, either indoors or outdors, but easily adaptable for a wide variety of other games and uses.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved game table construction having a substantially circular base carrying a playing surface thereon and a removable peripheral annular rim mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the base and means on the rim for providing limited access to the playing surface at the level thereof.

Anther object of this invention is to provide a portable game table capable of being mounted upon an ordinary card table and having a substantially circular disc carrying a playing surface thereon, an annular upstanding rim and means for enabling the rotation of said rim relative to the said disc, said means being coupled to said disc at hte peripheral edge thereof and extending outward therefrom about the circumference thereof and the rim being mounted upon said means for rotation relative to said disc and disposed closely adjacent to the peripheral edge of said disc so as to retain objects upon the same.

Another object of this invention is the Iprovision of a portable game table capable of indoor and/or outdoor usage, which is easily set up and knocked down, which is capable of use in playing many types of table games, and further, is capable for ordinary table usage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable game table construction having a planar portion carrying a palying surface thereon and, coupled for rotation, an upstandting annular rim, there being provided a mounting base for carrying the playing surface portion, said base ibeing adapted to be mounted upon attached legs or upon a table, but, if desired, capable of use in the absence of legs or a table so that play can be carried o-n at ground level either indoors or outdoors.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a portable game table construction which includes a disc carrying a playing surface, a plurality of depending roller type mountin means mounted to the table and arranged radially outward around the peripheral edge of said disc an upsanding annular rim formed of arcuate segments hingedly secured one to the other at their ends, and one segment having an area thereof removed to provide limited access to the playing surface from the edge and at the level of the playing surface, said rim removably being mountable upon said roller means so that it is disposed normal to the playing surface and is rotatable about the vertical axis of said surface, whereby a player simply rotates the rim to position the access opening at a selective location along the circumference of said playing surface, eg., the position at :which the player is seated or otherwise located.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident to those skilled in the art as a preferred embodiment of the novel game table construction is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the game table constructed in accordance with the invention and shown mounted to an ordinary collapsible folding table.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the game table shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a reduced plan view of the game table illustrated in FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the means for mounting the rim of the game table to the disc carrying the playing surface.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken through lines 5 5 of FIG. 4 and in the direction indicated.

FIG. 6 is a reduced fragmentary detail illustrating the game table of the invention mounting a table tennnis net for play of table tennis.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 the game table constructed in accordance with the invention is designated generally by reference character 10 and is shown mounted upon an ordinary well known collapsible table commonly utilized as 'a card table, the legs of which are visible and represented by reference character 12, the table top thereof being sown in phantom View and designated by reference character 14 (FIG. 2).

The game table 10 has abase 16 and a disc 18 preferably of circular configuration mounted to the base and -carrying a friction mat on its upper surface functioning as the playing surface. Depending roller means 22 is provided arranged mounted to the edge of disc 18 adjacent the periphery thereof and equally spaced therearound. The roller means 22 depend from the disc 18 and extend outwardly of the circumferential edge a small distance. The annular rim or wall 24 comprises a plurality of assembled arcuate segments 26 and bridging segment 28, all secured one to the ohter at their ends by pin and hinge means 30. The bridging segment 28 has a bottom section 32 and end sections 34 to define a large opening 36. The upper edge 38 of section 32 is arranged to be flush with the upper surface 40 of disc 18 so that access is gained therethrough to the interior of the enclosure defined by annular rim or wall 24 at the level of the playing surface 20 or slightly below said level, say, at the level of surface 40. The upper edges 42 of segments 26 and 28 defining annular wall 24 are beaded so as to present a smooth rather than sharp edge surface.

The roller means 22 comprise a plurality of rollers 44 preferably formed of plastic material, such as nylon or the like, arranged mounted depending from the under surface of disc 18 so that they project outwardly and depend below the circumferential or peripheral edge 72 of disc 18. Each roller 44 is of generally cylindrical configuration and has an axial bore 46 and a relatively deep annular circumferential groove 48. The rollers 44 are all spaced outwardly of said peripheral edge 72 substantially the same distance and are mounted to the disc 18 by mounting means designated generally by reference character 50. Each of the mounting means 50 includes a right-angle bracket 52 formed of leg S4 and integral depending leg 56. A bearing bolt 58 is passed through passageway 46 of roller 44 and threadably engaged within a suitable passageway 60 formed in leg 56. A rimmed, shallow channel member 62 is fastened to the underside of disc 18 by means of suitable countersunk screw means l64 so as to define, with the disc, a channel 66 of dimension and configuration slidably to receive leg 54 of bracket 52.

The annular rim 24 is mounted upon the roller means 22 by seating the lower edge 68 thereof in grooves 48 of the rollers 44. The bearing portion of bearing bolt 58 serves as a shaft for roller 44 while the head 58 thereof retains the roller 44 in position at a fixed distance outwardly of the peripheral or circumferential edge 72 of disc 18.

When the annular wall or rim 24 is mounted upon the roller means 22, the inner surface thereof is Hush with the circumferential edge 72 of disc 18.

The segments 26 and segment 28 are assembled to form the annular wall or rim 24 by means of pin and hinge means 30 which comprise a one-half barrel hinge 74 secured to one segment 26 at an end -thereof and another one-half barrel hinge 76 secured at the other, opposite end of the segment and parallel with and adjacent to the edges thereof. A vpin 78 is engaged through the matched barrels of hinges 74 and 76 to assemble the annular wall 24. Pin 78 has a curled upper end to form handle 80 for ease in assembly and disassembly.

As stated above, the table 10 is most advantageous to be used in playing the game of marbles either indoors or out. In FIG. 1 there is shown in solid lines a rack of marbles 82 such as often utilized in initiating a game. One shooter marble 8 4 is shown adjacent the peripheral edge of playing surface 20 in readiness for beginning the game, In phantom outline, there is shown on playing surface 20 several marbles in their random arrangement on playing surface 20 subsequent to the break of the rack set.

The annular wall or rim 24 may be removed from the rollers -to enable the table 10 to be used to serve refreshments, to enable the playing of table tennis, card games or use for other table functions other than those which require the rim. Also, the disc and base can be removed from its mounting upon the card table 12 and set down with the annular rim 24 engaged upon the roller means 22. This enables floor level play either indoors or outdoors. Likewise, the assembled table `1G, even when mounted upon the collapsible table, is sufficiently light in weight to permit its bodily disposition either indoors or outdoors.

The game may be played in many fashions. One often preferred method is Ito have the players seated or otherwise located around the periphery of the table and in such instances, the first player initiates the play and then, when the first player had completed his play, the rim would rotate to the seating positions of the next player, and so on, each player taking consecutive turns. Another method of play would be to have the first player begin and continue to play until fouling simply by rotating the annular rim or wall selectively 4to the desired shooting location along the peripheral edge of the playing area 20.

The use of the table in the last mentioned method of play is shown in phantom outline where the opening 36 is now located at a diierent position arrived at by rotation of annular wall 24.

`Many other games in addition to the marble type games are playable utilizing the game table construction 10 of the invention. Variations of pool or billiards, games, table tennis jacks, dice and the like are easily played upon the playing lsurface of table 10.

As an example of the versatility of game table 10 of the invention, attention is directed to FIG. `6 wherein the table 10 has been converted to one for use in playing table tennis. Net mounts 86 comprising upright leg 88 and base 90 are positioned at diametrically opposite locations relative to the disc 18. Obviously, the rim 24 has been removed, as well as the roller means 22 at those diametrically opposite locations. The base 90 is received in channel 66 and the net 92 is strung across the disc `18 and attached to the upright leg 88 by means of strings 94. The surface may remain or be removed temporarily during table tennis play.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United [States is:

1. A portable game table construction comprising a disc member carrying a playing surface thereon; an annular upstanding rim adjacent the peripheral edge of said disc member and rotatable relative to said disc; mounting means extending outwardly about the circumference of the peripheral edge of said disc member and removably coupled thereto for rotatably mounting said rim; said rim being mounted on its mounting means such that it may be removed without moving said disc.

2. The game table as claimed in claim 1 in which said mounting means includes roller means positioned depending below the level of the playing surface carried thereby.

3. The game table as claimed in claim 2 in which said roller means comprise a plurality of roller members mounted about the peripheral edge of said disc and spaced slightly outward of said edge, each of said rollers having a circumferential groove therein and said rim being mounted on the rollers Within the groove for rotation about the vertical axis of said disc.

4. The game table as claimed in claim 3 in which said disc is xed relative to said base.

5. The game table as claimed in claim 1 in which said annular rim includes a portion removed therefrom t0 provide an opening at least at the level of said playing surface.

6. The game table as claimed in claim 1 in which said annular rim is formed of a plurality of arcuate segments and means for joining said sergments at their ends to form said rim, at least one of said segments having only a bottom portion and end portions whereby to define an opening aiording limited access to the playing surface at the level thereof.

7. The game table as claimed in claim 1 in which said roller means comprises a plurality of rollers removably mounted to said disc adjacent the peripheral edge. thereof and depending below the upper surface thereof, and mounting means for said rollers secured to said disc and arranged equal spaced around the circumference of said disc and adjacent the peripheral edge thereof.

8. The game table as claimed in claim 7 in which said roller mounting means comprises a channeled bracket secured to the disc, an angle bracket, one leg of which is adapted to be received within the channel of said channeled bracket, and a bolt mounting said roller and secured to the other leg of said angle bracket.

9. The game table as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided underlying base means for carrying said disc member, said base means comprising an open-bottomed, frame member and the disc is mounted upon said frame member, the dimensions of the frame member being chosen so the frame is contained entirely within the peripheral extent of the disc.

10. The game table as claimed in claim 1 in which said disc is circular and the annular rim is arranged flush with the peripheral edge of said disc.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,652 4/ 1902 Nielsen et al 273-119 1,622,156 3/ 1927 Kornahrens 273-119 2,100,280 11/ 1937 Goldberger 273-136 3,206,208 9/ 1965 Bates 273-108 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, 'Primary Examiner T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

